Dear Editor,
Re: "City of Richmond considering adding lighting to busy cycling path"
The proposal to add lighting to the subject greenway is less than a priority for the heavy burden put on property taxes in this city, our electrical resources and again counters a darker sky for humans and bird life.
It is a fact of life that many in our city and continent will never be happy if the night of each day comes with at least eight hours of darkness.
Humans need darkness in their homes to have a restful night. Studies have shown that modern street lighting does interfere with sleep in our homes.
A greenway should be green and have trees, grass, weeds, etc., in it. In that environment, bird life (which is dramatically declining due to habitat loss and predation and even lighting in certain instances) can hopefully find a few nesting sites.
The reproductive cycle of birds depends on some degree of darkness and putting lighting in a greenway is therefore detrimental for nature.
Ample lighting does occur from the adjacent street and a paved pathway does allow safe, tumble-free walking without additional lighting.
Why do we have to put more and more lighting in every area humans want to frequent?
Is a wolf, grizzly bear or mugger hiding behind each and every tree in that fairly tree-barren greenway? What do we do next? Put lighting in the Nature Park and throughout the Terra Nova Park?
Otto Langer
Richmond
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